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Author & Illustrators

Mick Manning Books

In ‘Women Who Led the Way’, you are invited into the world of some of the world’s most influential female adventurers. from Iceland to the South Pole, and from the depths of history to outer space, the women of this book have helped to shape the understanding of the universe we have today.

Each double-page spread invites the reader to engage with the explorer through a first-person narrative and, while written in a way which is accessible for younger readers, each is captivating and inspirational. The illustrations give the reader a sense of the intense focus within each of the women depicted, along with contextual clues about the time and place in which the women lived.

On each page is a short paragraph that challenges the reader to learn more about another woman who also led the way in their field or some additional insight into the challenges faced by these phenomenal women.

It is a superb book and would be a perfect addition to a class library, used as part of a topic on famous explorers or famous women in history.

The life of William Shakespeare is vividly depicted, from his birth in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564, childhood and schooldays, through an apprenticeship at his father’s glove-making shop, his marriage to Anne Hathaway, and then the move to London – where Will hones his skills as an actor-playwright for The Lord Chamberlain’s Men. When the newly-built Globe Theatre opens in 1599, Will Shakespeare is a key member of the company, and many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays are first performed here. By his death in 1616, William Shakespeare is acknowledged as the master playwright of his age – and ever since as one of the greatest writers of all time.

With lively graphic-novel descriptions of many of Shakespeare’s most famous plays, including A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Merchant of Venice, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, Henry V, Hamlet, Macbeth, Othello and The Tempest, and drawing on the latest biographical research, this is the perfect introduction for children to the life and works of William Shakespeare.

An informative non-fiction text that covers the different types of houses and how they are built. The book also includes teacher notes and activities to support the new primary curriculum.

Fiction meets non-fiction in this exciting retelling of experiences from an RAF Air Gunner during World War II, presented in a comic book style. Tail-End Charlie is an accessible book with a high visual appeal and a great way of hooking in younger or more reluctant readers.

Viking Longship is a fascinating information text full of images, questions and captions that probe deeply into the world of Viking sea voyages.

The book offers an appealing non-fiction text exploring Viking life from the point of view of the crew of a longship. With accessible text and engaging illustrations, this is a great addition to your library of books covering the Vikings topic.

A much-loved non-fiction choice that also spans the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age is The Secrets of Stonehenge by Mick Manning & Brita Granström.

Built over hundreds of years, Stonehenge is one of the most famous monuments from prehistoric times. Historians believe that construction began in the late Neolithic Age and work continued over the next thousand years, with people making many changes to the monument well into the Bronze Age. There is some doubt over exactly why Stonehenge was built, but a likely reason is for religious ceremonies and gatherings.

The Secrets of Stonehenge is a fascinating information text full of images, questions and captions that probe deeply into the mysteries of Stonehenge. This engaging non-fiction text is easy to understand, visually appealing and bursting with interesting facts and theories about the mysteries of Stonehenge.

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Stone Girl Bone Girl

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Does the book contain anything that teachers would wish to know about before recommending in class (strong language, sensitive topics etc.)?

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